Credits: Freepik
The Conservative Party of Canada is demanding that the federal government disclose how a 20-year-old Pakistani man, arrested in Quebec over an alleged ISIS plot targeting U.S. Jews, was able to enter and reside in Canada. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan was taken into custody by police in Ormstown, Quebec, after allegedly planning to cross into the U.S. to carry out a mass shooting at a Jewish community center in New York.
Federal officials, including those from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), have so far refused to answer questions regarding Khan’s immigration status, citing privacy laws. However, government sources have confirmed they are currently reviewing how Khan entered Canada, with speculations pointing to a student visa.
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated, “We are looking into this and will not comment further as there is an ongoing investigation.” Meanwhile, opposition parties are not satisfied, with Deputy Conservative Leader Melissa Lantsman calling for the Liberals to quickly disclose key details of the case.
“If they do not release this information soon, we will seek to force the government to provide answers, as we did in the case of Ahmed Eldidi,” Lantsman warned, referring to a previous incident in which an Egyptian man with links to ISIS obtained Canadian citizenship before being arrested for plotting a terror attack in Toronto.
Concerns About Immigration Security Screening
The arrest of Khan is raising alarms among Canadian Jewish organizations and security experts, who are questioning the rigor of Canada’s immigration screening processes. Canadian Jewish groups were briefed by the RCMP on Friday, during which police confirmed Khan was suspected of being in the country on a student visa. However, it remains unclear whether he is still under that visa status.
Michael Levitt, president of the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, expressed concern over the recent trend of increased terrorist activity in Canada. “This incident underscores significant questions about our immigration vetting protocols. Our government must answer these questions before we witness a tragedy on Canadian soil,” Levitt stated.
Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith’s director of research and advocacy, echoed similar concerns, noting, “We heard from the RCMP during the briefing that Mr. Khan was here on a student visa.” However, no official response has yet been provided from Public Safety Canada or the federal immigration authorities.
A Broader Pattern of ISIS-Related Arrests
Khan’s arrest follows a string of ISIS-related cases in Canada over the past year, raising fears of increasing terrorist activity linked to the group. In July, another man, Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi, and his son were arrested in Toronto after allegedly preparing a terror attack. Like Khan, Eldidi had entered Canada through the refugee system, and the Conservatives have since called for greater scrutiny of immigration and refugee admissions.
The surge in cases has heightened concerns about Canada’s immigration and student visa systems potentially being used as back doors for individuals with ties to extremist groups. Canadian authorities have been struggling with growing criticism over what many see as weak security screening processes, particularly in light of the rising number of international students entering the country in recent years.
In response to these concerns, the federal government has announced that it is re-evaluating the student visa program, which has been rapidly expanding. However, critics argue that such measures are too little, too late, as terrorist organizations like ISIS continue to reassert themselves online and recruit members across different regions, including West Africa and South Asia.
Implications for Public Safety
Khan’s arrest has once again underscored the urgent need for heightened vigilance, especially as Canada deals with a wave of antisemitic incidents and threats against Jewish communities. According to the FBI, Khan allegedly told undercover officers he wanted to “slaughter” Jews in New York on or around October 7, the anniversary of a deadly Hamas attack in Israel. His arrest has raised further questions about how a known ISIS sympathizer was able to remain in Canada long enough to plan a cross-border terrorist attack.
The RCMP, along with federal officials, are now under increasing pressure to ensure that Canada’s immigration and visa systems are not exploited by extremists looking to carry out attacks either domestically or abroad. For now, the government remains tight-lipped, with calls for transparency growing louder from opposition parties and Jewish organizations alike.
As investigations continue, Canada’s handling of such cases will likely remain in the spotlight, as both domestic and international security agencies monitor the situation closely to prevent future threats.
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